DE returning to pool

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E

easy-e

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2018
133
Monmouth County, NJ
Pool Size
25000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
When I had the Pool opened they noted that there was DE appearing at the returns. They said the most likely cause was a tear and name some of the things that I frankly can't recall.

I opened up the filter for the first time today (Pentair Plus FNS60) and took it apart and gave it a cleaning (no acid, just jet nozzle). The grids appeared to be in good shape. No obvious tears and I did go over then carefully, no structural damage, etc.

Nothing else appeared cracked or damaged. I put the filter back together, and started the pump back up. Everything seemed to be fine. Started adding DE at the skimmer. I probably should have added it slower but I was exhausted and now I've got a very cloudy pool full of DE.

Shut the pump off let everything settle down. My first question is can I use my s200 to clean up this mess or do I need to use a manual vacuum? Or wouldn't the vacuum just send it right back into the pool if the root cause isn't addressed?

Second question - any other ideas on the de issue? I didn't see anything obvious but this is all new to me. I'm thinking of just paying for the service call. At least I already cleaned it.
 
Sounds like you still have a compromise in the filter, either a torn grid or manifold. As you can tell from the consistency of DE, it only takes the tiniest crack or separation. You can try the S200, but I'm not sure it will work. If not, no sense trying to clean it up with a vacuum until you find the culprit in the filter.
 
Texas Splash said:
Sounds like you still have a compromise in the filter, either a torn grid or manifold. As you can tell from the consistency of DE, it only takes the tiniest crack or separation. You can try the S200, but I'm not sure it will work. If not, no sense trying to clean it up with a vacuum until you find the culprit in the filter.
Click to expand...

I do have the different filter options for the s200 - any harm in trying?

Like I said, nothing that was obvious to me, but I'm very new to all of this. I think I just have to pony up for a service call. At least I already cleaned it, since they would presumably need to do that
 
How old is the DE filter? Mine lasted about 10 years then had the same issue as yours. It was fine when I opened the pool, then I backwashed it and recharged it and it dumped DE back into the pool. I pulled it apart and saw a small tear. I ordered an entire replacement filter assy and dropped it in. Then I ordered a full pleat set and rebuilt the original as a spare.
 
JamesR said:
How old is the DE filter? Mine lasted about 10 years then had the same issue as yours. It was fine when I opened the pool, then I backwashed it and recharged it and it dumped DE back into the pool. I pulled it apart and saw a small tear. I ordered an entire replacement filter assy and dropped it in. Then I ordered a full pleat set and rebuilt the original as a spare.
Click to expand...

I only bought the house in December so I really don't know. Like I said, after cleaning it seemed to be in decent shape. Nothing obvious.
 
Giving this a bump in the hopes of getting some responses vs starting a new thread.

So now I have a very cloudy DE filled pool. Running the pump doesn't fix it - the filter just isn't capturing it. I'm keeping it off most of the time while I let the s200 run with the fine filter in.

If this is a bad idea please let me know. Will having the DE in the pool cause any chemical issues ? Obviously it looks bad and no one is swimming in it but I want to make sure it's not going to screw something up by being in there.
 
Is DE constantly entering the pool? I'm not familiar with the inner-workings of your filter, but I had a similar issue when I rushed through reassembly of my Quad DE filter after cleaning. I had a constant stream of DE entering the pool. I disassembled and found I had not properly attached the air bleeder sock to center riser. Your filter should have one on top of the manifold. Check for cracks in the tube, bad connections, or tears in the sock.

Screenshot 2022-05-02 182232.jpg

Each time I add DE to a clean filter, I get a bit of DE that enters the returns no matter how slow I go. I now isolate returns to the spa when adding DE so it's easier to agitate and filter out.

I've seen a few posts where hairline cracks in the manifold were the culprit. Examine closely.
 
Rancho:

Thanks for responding.

Yes, it is constant. My manifold looks exactly like the one in the picture. The sock, which I am assuming is the cap with the mesh screen, was bent inwards on mine to where it was concave. I was able to pop it back out gently with my finger and it appeared intact. As far as the connection to the hose (sorry I don't know the technical names), it just popped on and off - not sure if something was missing but it seemed secure.

I'm going to open it up and inspect again. That was my original plan but I spent most of the time cleaning the filter.
 
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There’s an oring on the standpipe. It’s what’s the outlet tube of your manifold slides down over. Is that intact? It’s #27 in the picture. It should be a tight fit in the groove. Apply pool lube to it. Be sure the manifold is not cracked there either where it slides on.

EE71A580-EA43-421E-B522-5F2CCDFFF570.png
 
JamesR said:
There’s an oring on the standpipe. It’s what’s the outlet tube of your manifold slides down over. Is that intact? It’s #27 in the picture. It should be a tight fit in the groove. Apply pool lube to it. Be sure the manifold is not cracked there either where it slides on.
Click to expand...
James:

I did check that as well, including the ring. I even bought a replacement. Also seemed intact to me.
 

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So my pressure is around 11psi. I ran the pump overnight after I took the robot out. Water definitely cleared up a little bit but still cloudy. Better than it was - I can see the bottom now. When I took the robot out last night, I couldn't see the robot until I got it to the surface. Creepy lol.

I'm going to keep monitoring it and if necessary take it apart again. I have replacement grids so maybe I'll just replace them to be sure. I assume I should backwash first so I don't lose any new DE that attached? Or don't worry about it
 
I always backwash before removing the grids otherwise is a gunky mess.
What do you mean by “So I don’t lose any new DE”?
When you backwash, it goes to waste, correct? All of the DE is washed away to where’ve your backwash port leads to…. The lawn, the driveway….
 
JamesR said:
I always backwash before removing the grids otherwise is a gunky mess.
What do you mean by “So I don’t lose any new DE”?
When you backwash, it goes to waste, correct? All of the DE is washed away to where’ve your backwash port leads to…. The lawn, the driveway….
Click to expand...

Oh yeah...duh. New to this and we are out of coffee here..

At this point my plan is open the filter again, check all connections/manifold to see if I missing something, and just replace the grids to be sure.

I'm guessing vacuum is going to be the best way to get the DE in pool into the filter vs just brushing and running pump.

Edit to add: I just took another look at the pool. It seems to be clearing up more as the pump runs. I know it wasn't all the robot because when I took the robot out last night it was VERY cloudy still. Or is the pump/returns just not agitating what's on the bottom so it isn't as cloudy vs running robot?
 
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So I just noticed something the other day, don't know I never put it together. The previous owner had one of those puck fed auto chlorinators. When the guys opened the pool, they didn't hook it up because a hose was missing (I also said I wasn't going to use it). So right now, there is a thin tube connecting from the pre-filter suction side to the post-filter return side.

Seems kinda obvious but wouldn't that result in DE from the skinner missing the filter entirely? I'm eliminating it either way but would that cause the level of DE I am seeing - that is, alot.
 
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So I fixed that hose that was stupidly set up to skip the filter. Letting pump run to see if any DE builds up on filter. Presumably I would know this happens if the pressure raises.

Let's say that doesn't work, and let's say I have already replaced all the grids, the nanifold and the o-rings.

What's next for troubleshooting this?
 
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I wouldn’t think that a Hayward chlorinator with those little 5/16” hoses would bypass enough DE to make your pool visibly cloudy. You’re saying yours is bypassed with a 5/16” hose. Still don’t think that’s enough. But you can easily block those off. Just cut the hoses, fold the hose back onto itself and Ty-wrap it. Do this on each port.
 
JamesR said:
I wouldn’t think that a Hayward chlorinator with those little 5/16” hoses would bypass enough DE to make your pool visibly cloudy. You’re saying yours is bypassed with a 5/16” hose. Still don’t think that’s enough. But you can easily block those off. Just cut the hoses, fold the hose back onto itself and Ty-wrap it. Do this on each port.
Click to expand...
Yeah that is done. I removed them entirely and used the hose clamps with some strips of rubber to seal them up. Seems to be working fine.

Still very cloudy. When I get a chance this week I'm going to replace all the grids, the manifold and the stand pipe o-ring.

Then I'm going to vacuum and see if I can get the DE in the pool into the filter. If the above doesn't do it and I don't find a noticeable crack or something, I am not sure what to do next.
 

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